Metal furniture



March 27, 1951 E. c. BOOTH METAL FURNITURE Filed Aug. 19, 1946 INVENTOR. fi z/P1 CI 5007/93 Patented Mar. 27, 1951 2,546,492 METALYFURNITURE Earl C. Booth, Columbus, Ind., assignor to Arvin. Industries, Inc., a corporation of Indiana Application August 19, 1946, Serial No. 691,482

9 Claims.

Q My invention relates to metal furniture and more particularly to an article of furniture, such as a table having tubular metal legs. It is the object of my invention to provide an improved foot for a tubular metal leg constituting an element of an article of furniture. More specifically, it is my object to provide a foot construction which will be easy to assemble, which will be attractive in appearance, and which can be simply and economically manufactured. A further object of my invention is to provide an improved means for attaching a foot to a tubular metal leg. I

In carrying out my invention in its preferred 'form, the foot is formed of molded plastic and has a baselarge enough to project in all directions outwardly beyond the wall of the tubular leg with which it is to be associated. The base is provided with upward projections adapted to fit within the, tubular leg to locate the foot radially of the leg. Adjacent the foot. a portion of the wall of the tubular leg is formed into a tongue and bent inwardly to extend transversely of the tube above the foot-locating projections of the base; and a screw extending through the base and into such tongue holds the foot in place. In addition to the foot-locatingprojections, the foot is provided with another projection which extends upwardly exteriorly of the tube to concealv the slot or opening left by the inward bending of the tongue. In the construction specifically described hereinafter, each leg'with which a foot is to be associated is formed of two pieces of tubing, with both of which a single foot is associated,

the foot being provided with two sets of upwardly extending, foot-locating projections and each: -tube being provided with a screw-receiving tongue.

The accompanying drawing illustrates my invention: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a table having legs equipped with my improved foot; Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3 through the lower end of one leg and its associated foot; Figs. 3 and 4 are horizontal sections respectively on the lines 3-4 and 4-4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the foot; Fig. 6 is an isometric view of the lower end of one tubular leg-forming element; and Fig. 7 is an isometric view of the foot alone.

The table shown in Fig. 1, which is illustrated merely by way of example, comprises a generally rectangular top [0 provided at each corner with a supporting leg comprising two metal tubes II secured at their upper ends in any convenient manner to the top. Associated with each leg is a foot I2, conveniently formed of molded plastic.

The foot I2 embodies a base I3 having generally parallel sides and rounded ends, the base being large enough to project outwardly in all directions beyond the lower ends of the two associated tubes I I. The base I3 is provided with upwardly extending projections adapted to be received within each tube II and to locate the tube and base relatively to each other. In the particular foot shown in the drawing, such locating projections include a relatively short annular flange I4 and four webs I5 radiating from an axial boss I6.

At its lower end, each of the tubes II is provided with an inwardly struck tongue 20 which extends transversely across the tube-axis above the boss I6 and webs I5 and which is provided at such axis with a screw-receiving hole 2I. In the assembly, the two tubes II are positioned so that the slots 22 left by the inward bending of the tongues 20 are adjacent each other with the tongues extending away from each other generally parallel to the center-line of the base I3. In alignment with the axis of each tube I l the foot is provided with a hole 24 which extends upward through the associated boss I6. Each of the holes 24 receives a screw 25, preferably of the self-tapping type, the upper end of which extends into the opening 2| of the associated tongue 20 so that when the screws are tightened the tongue will be drawn against the lower end of the tubes I I. The bottom of the base is provided with a recess26 receiving the heads of the screws 25.

To conceal the slots 22, which otherwise would detract from the appearance of the construction, the foot I2 is provided with a 'web 21 which ex- .ten'ds upwardly from theffoot-base I3 between the two tubes II and which is. shaped on its opposite sides to fit against'the outer surfaces of the respective tubes. At its lower end, the web 21 may have a width transversely of the foot sub stantially equal to that of the base and may embrace each tube for substantially one-half of its circumference. However, to improve appearance and also to save weight, the width of the web 2! and the angular extent over which it is in contact with each tube may decrease upwardly, as will be clear from Fig. '7. While the web may have the form illustrated and described, it is essential to the purpose of my invention only that its vertical extent and width be great enough to conceal the slot. 22 in each leg.

As will be clear from Figs. 4 and 7 two diametrically opposite webs l5 of each set extend transversely of the foot I2, while the remaining four webs all lie in a common plane containing the center-line of the foot. of the four latter webs,

the .two which extend toward each other and which are designated l in Fig. 4 join the web 21 which extends upwardly from the base 13 between the two tubes. That portion of the foot constituting the junction between each Web l5 and the web 21 has a thickness, transversely of the foot, greater than the width of the slot 22, and its sides are grooved as indicated at 28 in Figs. 4 and"? to receive and support the metal at the edges of such slot.

As will be obvious, I have provided a foot which is simple and inexpensive, which is firmly located in proper position on the associated :leg, and

which is attached to such leg by means that are entirely concealed. In the twin-'tubeeonstruction shown, the foot performs the additional function of locating the two tubes relatively to-each other.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an article of furniture having supporting legs, each of said legs comprising a pair of metal tubes, acdmmoh foot for the two tubes constituting each l'eg, said :f'oot having upward :proje'cti'on's ex-tending into and-engaging the inner suriacesof "the tubesto locate them "in spaced relationsh-i on the foot, each of said 'tub'es being provided n'ear' 'its -lower "end with a tongue struck from thewallof 'the tiibe and bent inwardly to --'xteiid a'cr0ss the interior'of the'tubejand screws *irtiidiiigthrbugh the foot-and 'screw-threadedly received in the tongues for holding the foot in "place.

2. In an aiticle'iif furn-iture having'supporting Ieg's, 'each=-of said-legs comprising a pair of I metal =t'iib'es, acominon fo'ot for the two tubes consti- 'tuti'ng each leg, s'ai d -fobt having upwardprojem "tions extending-into and eng aging' the inner surfacisd'f the tubes toloeate them in spaced relatidnship on the 'fo'ot, each "of said tubes being provided'n'ear its lower end with a tongue struck "fio'm'the wall of the tube and bent inwardly to -"extend 'ac'r'oss the i'riterior'df the tube, and means "c'o operating'with the foot and tongues for holding 'the fo'o't in place.

3. The invention set forth in claim '2 with i the addition' that said "foot is providedwith a projectidn'exte'ndin'g upwardly adjacent the outer surface 'of'th'e tube to'cover and conceal the slots left in the tube wall by the inward bending of "the tongues.

'4. The invention se't'forth'in claim 2 with the addition that said'tong'ues are struck'from adjafoe'nt portions ofthe tube walls-"andextend away "from each'othe'r. said foot'having a web-extendin'g upwardly between'the tubes to and beyond s'aid'tongues'to'conceal the "slots left in the "tubes "by the'inwar dbendirig of 'the' tongues.

5. In an article of furniture having supporting legs, each of said legs comprising a tube, a foot for such leg, said foot having an upward projection extending into said tube to locate the tube and foot radially with respect to eachother, said tube being provided near its lower end with a tongue struck from the tube-wall and bent to extend across the interior of the tube, and a screw extending through said front and screw-threaded'ly received insaid tongue for holding the foot in place.

6. In an article of furniture having supporting legs, each of said legs comprising a tube, a foot for such leg, said foot having an upward projection extending into said tube to locate the tube and 'foot'radiallywith respect to each other, said tube being-provided near its lower end with a tongue struck from the tube-wall and bent to extend "across the interior of the tube, and means co-operating with said foot and said tongue for bidding the :f-oo'tin iplace.

'7. The invention fse't forth in claim '6 with the addition that :said .footisprovided with "a projection extending upwardly exterior-1y of the tube to coverand conceal'the slotil'eft by the inward bending ofthe tongue.

'8. In an article of furniture having'supporting legs, each of said l'egs comprising a tube, "a Iioot for such leg, said foot having an upward projection engaging the wall of the tube to locate the tube and foot-radially with respect to each other, said tube being provided :near its lower end "with a tongue struck from the tube-wall and b'ent'to *extendacros's'the interior of thetube, and means co-operating with said 'foot and said tongue :for holding the foot in place.

Q. The invention set'f'orth in claim 8 with the addition that said projection is disposed in the ='s'lot'left by the inward bending "of the tongue 'and is provided in opposite sides with grooves receiving the sides of such *sl'ot.

"C. BOOTH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record :in the file'o f this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 090,675 Bell I Mar. 17, 1914 1,153,946 'Ohnstrand Sept. 21, I915 1,482,205 Uhl Jan.,"29, 1924 1,843,261 Bales Feb. '2, 1932 1,869,365 Corduan Aug.'f2, 1932 12,283,351 'Booth May "19, 1942 2,301,420 Liabastre Nov;10,"1942 

